Only 9 weeks to go before the first Waterford Hills Track day. If you havenâ€™t finished up those winter modifications, itâ€™s time to get moving! Registration will be open in a few weeks. Iâ€™ll send out an update when and where youâ€™ll need to go to sign up.

2013 Open Track schedule

Sunday, April 21

Sunday, June 23

Sunday, August 25

Sunday, October 13

2013 pricingPricing has been set for the 2013 season.

Pre-Registered/Paid WHRRI Members: $125.00

Pre-Registered/Paid Non-WHRRI Members: $165.00

WHRRI at Gate or after deadline: $160

Non-WHRRI at Gate or after deadline: $200

Autorama is coming up next month. (March 8,9,10) Make sure you stop by and say hi to us at the booth. We usually run a video in the background showing on track action. Iâ€™d like to include some of our Track Day footage. If you have any and are willing to let us use it, please contact me so I can get it incorporated into the main video.

InstructorsThis is big news, and Iâ€™m excited to finally say that we are now able to put an instructor in the car with you during hot laps! Instructors will be available to ride along with you during the morning sessions to improve your skills. They will then be available for lead-follow during the afternoon sessions. Only Waterford approved instructors will be allowed in the vehicle with you. Weâ€™ll have more on that later!

ClassificationAnyone that ran during the final OTD of last year probably noticed there were more un-interrupted laps. This was in a large part due to our Steward and Corner Marshalls taking an active roll in moving participants into groups that better matched their skill and timing. We plan to continue the practice this season as well as limiting the number of cars on track in each group to relieve on track congestion.

TwitterIâ€™ve been posting tips and links to sites with good information on Track Days. If you have a good tip, or know of a good source of info on the web, let me know. Weâ€™re at https://twitter.com/whrwotd

Fresh BloodWellâ€¦ we donâ€™t want to see any actual blood, but we do want to see new faces at the track. If you know of someone that might be interested in running on the track, pass this info on to them, or have them contact me. Itâ€™d be wrong to keep Running at Waterford Hills all to yourself. Donâ€™t be stingy!

Things we are working on:

Time Attack/Time Trial groupWaterford Hills is considering a Time Attack group similar to the NASA TT program. Participants would run during regular race weekends. The idea is to get OTD/HPDE participants familiar with, and interested in racing. We would use our regular OTD vehicles during these sessions. Format and rules have not been decided at this time. Iâ€™d like to see some feedback from our actual OTD participants and HPDE enthusiasts. Send me an email, or reply to the topic on our fourm page: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4671 This is a VERY cool idea, and since this is being considered, Iâ€™d like to get as much of our input into it as possible.

OTD/HPDE Log booksA suggestion was made that could benefit our OTD/HPDE participants. Using a log book to track your progress as a driver and vehicle statistics. This could potentially be used as an annual tech as well. The primary use would be to aid in classification for each OTD. This will also get you accustomed to using log books if you plan to move on to wheel to wheel racing. Iâ€™ll have more on this as it develops.

Low cost data logger

I've been using my I-phone and Harry's Lap Timer to monitor my progress at Waterford. I've got video here to give you an idea of the info it provides: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riJRJ5QcY34 The system uses the g-force sensors, video camera and GPS in the iphone to give you basic logging and track information. If you add an external GPS sensor (XGPS-150) and a OBD link (Go-Point), you can get higher accuracy GPS and vehicle telemetry directly from the car.

Harry's lap timer: Itunes store, or http://www.gps-laptimer.de/Home.htmlXGPS 150: http://xgps150.dualav.com/GoPoint BT1: http://gopointtech.com/Total system (provided you have an IPhone is less than $200.00. I'll be happy to help you set up the system if you'd like, and we may have GoPoint staff on site at the first OTD this year. (We'll keep you up to date on that) I personally use this system and am only providing the info to make the Waterford experience better for everyone. If you know of another good system please let me know.

If you have any suggestions, questions, issues or concerns, please feel free to contact me. And remember - I'm not only the organizer... I'm a participant too!